7 Best Forex Signals Providers of 2024 (2024)

Similiar to social copy trading, forex signals are a way for traders to share trading opportunities with other traders and investors. When a trading opportunity is identified, or when certain predefined conditions are met, forex signal providers can share that information (typically a buy-or-sell recommendation) with other forex traders.

Traders that receive forex signals can choose whether to act upon the signal’s recommendation. Generally speaking, trading signals are either bullish (indicating a buying opportunity), or bearish (indicating a selling opportunity).

Some signal providers are fellow human traders, and some signals are created by computer programs, but nearly all trading signals are technical in nature and utilize some underlying form of technical analysis – often involving indicators which perform calculations on the price action of an asset.

Trading signals are just one tool in your trading arsenal, and should not replace your own trading strategy. That said, there are some forex signal services, platforms, and technology providers that deliver a great experience for traders who want to discover forex trading signals.

Here are some of my favorite signal providers (in no particular order):

Acuity Trading

Founded in 2013, Acuity Trading delivers a full suite of innovative products designed to help traders analyze market data information, including price action, market news, and economic calendar events. In March 2021, Acuity Trading announced its acquisition of Signal Centre, previously known as PIA First, which provides trading signals and remains an independent brand following the acquisition.

Acuity Trading also provides actionable market sentiment data. In 2017, Acuity formed a strategic partnership with Dow Jones Newswire to help power its calendar products and economic events analysis, which are available at a growing number of forex and CFD brokers.

Autochartist

Founded in 2004, Autochartist is a platform technology company that offers a suite of products and powerful analytical tools for traders and investors. Over the years, it has grown into a global brand that is in compliance with over a dozen global regulations from related authorities, and its technologies are used by many popular online forex and CFD brokers. Autochartist is perhaps best known for its automated chart patterns, “trade setups” (similar to trading signals), its web-based platform, and its MetaTrader plugin.

Autochartist provides trading signals driven by its database of technical charting patterns, and a plethora of other resources for traders, such as macroeconomic and fundamental news analysis, price forecasts, and risk calculations. Autochartist also offers social sentiment data on forex currency pairs and a range of other assets, updated on a minute-to-minute basis with data pulled from Twitter. Autochartist won the #1 Trading Signals Technology Provider award for the ForexBrokers.com 2024 Annual Awards.

MetaTrader Signals Market

MetaTrader is a platform suite developed by MetaQuotes Software that includes the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. When you are trading with a MetaTrader broker, you receive access by default to the MetaTrader Signals Market within the desktop platform and on MQL5 (except in rare cases where it is restricted by your broker).

Within the MetaTrader Signals Market, signal providers may use fully automated trading systems, discretionary trading systems (in which the provider decides when to place trades), or a combination of both types. Traders have the ability to view each trading signal provider’s number of subscribers (as well as other qualitative and quantitative metrics) to help assess the provider's performance.

Note: Some signal providers in the MetaTrader Signals Market may charge a recurring subscription fee for using their trading signals.

Signal Centre

Formerly known as PIA First, Signal Centre was acquired by Acuity Trading in early 2021 and has since remained an independent provider, though it can now leverage the technology from its parent company to power a growing list of participating brokers. Signal Centre is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the U.K., which is a requirement for companies that offer trading signals to U.K. investors.

Trading Central

Founded in 1999, Trading Central has become a major provider of technological solutions for the online brokerage industry. Known for its expanding suite of applications and automated technical analysis, Trading Central delivers a range of robust trading tools and resources such as investment research, economic calendar events, trader sentiment data, and a formidable offering of trading signals.

In the U.S., Trading Central is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and is regulated in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Within the EU, Trading Central is a member of the self-regulatory organization Association Nationale des Conseils Financiers (ANACOFI-CIF), and registered with ORIAS which manages registrations and is supervised by the treasury department in France.

Some forex trading signals are generated by human traders, while others are 100% computer-driven. Computer-generated trading signals use formulas to perform calculations on the price action of an asset until the pre-defined conditions that generate the signal are met. Human-generated trading signals may incorporate similar technical analysis, but include the element of human discretion.

Yes, forex signals can be worth using – provided that you conduct your own analysis and develop a detailed trading strategy. That said, forex signals are not a catch-all solution for successful trading. You still have to identify which signals to follow, which to avoid, and what the size of your trades will be once you’ve identified a trading opportunity. Developing your own risk-management philosophy and creating a trading strategy based on your personal trading goals are just as important when using forex trading signals.

Though not impossible, it’s unlikely that simply following forex trading signals will make you rich. In fact, statistics show that the vast majority of retail forex traders lose money, year after year. Finding success while using forex trading signals has more to do with how you manage your trading strategy and portfolio, and less to do with the particular signals you choose or trades you make.

Yes, the best forex brokers offer access to high-quality free forex signals, usually available within their platform or through a dedicated website. For example, IG directly integrates PIA First and Autochartist within its web-based trading platform. One thing about IG’s integration of trading signals that I appreciate is the ability to copy a trading signal directly into a trade ticket. This feature (which is offered by other top brokers, such as Saxo) allows you to place an order without having to type in every detail, providing a smooth user experience.

Learn how to use trading signals on IG's web platform by checking out our video walkthrough:

Screenshots of trading signal integration at IG:

Screenshots of IG's trading platforms for web and desktop:

Screenshots of Saxo's trading platforms for web and desktop:

Simply put, the best signal for forex trading is the one that makes you money. That said, using forex signals when trading is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Choosing forex signals can be complicated, and finding success with forex signals is easier said than done. The quality of a forex signal will depend on a number of factors, including the strength of the signal and the market conditions that could help (or hinder) the signal’s potential. You also still have to be mindful of your trade sizes, expected trade durations, and the way you’ll use stop-loss and limit orders for risk management.

Important factors to consider when analyzing a trading signal:

• Strength - The probability or confidence level that the expected outcome will materialize.
• Recency - The time the signal was published (Has it expired? Has it already reached its target?)
• Event-type quality - Was the signal based on a common event (such as a chart pattern breakout), information from a technical indicator, or from a confluence of multiple factors?

Copy trading (also known as social trading, mirror trading, or auto trading) is an automatic process. Once you’ve chosen a copy trading signal provider and copied their strategy, all of their trades will automatically be replicated (or, copied) in your brokerage account. With forex trading signals, it’s ultimately up to the trader to decide if they want to follow the signal's recommendation. For example, a trader might receive a forex trading signal that looks promising, but decide to pass on the trading opportunity after conducting their own analysis.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks.